Kamui Kobayashi topped the first practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix as the season kicks off again following a five week break.
The Sauber driver mastered the wet conditions to go half a second quicker than Pastor Maldonado and Daniel Ricciardo in second and third respectively.
The conditions caught out most drivers with many running wide. Michael Schumacher escaped an off at Eau Rouge to finally go tenth quickest.
Felipe Massa failed to set a time after his engine blew-up at the final chicane, leaving him stranded on the track with minutes to go.
2012 Belgian GP FP1 Results:
| # | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | K. Kobayashi | Sauber | 2:11.389 | 20 | |
| 02. | P. Maldonado | Williams | 2:11.941 | +0.552 | 14 |
| 03. | D. Ricciardo | Toro Rosso | 2:12.004 | +0.615 | 12 |
| 04. | J. Vergne | Toro Rosso | 2:12.824 | +1.435 | 15 |
| 05. | M. Webber | Red Bull | 2:13.191 | +1.802 | 13 |
| 06. | S. Perez | Sauber | 2:13.861 | +2.472 | 16 |
| 07. | N. Rosberg | Mercedes | 2:14.210 | +2.821 | 14 |
| 08. | V. Bottas | Williams | 2:14.660 | +3.271 | 16 |
| 09. | S. Vettel | Red Bull | 2:14.860 | +3.471 | 12 |
| 10. | M. Schumacher | Mercedes | 2:15.402 | +4.013 | 13 |
| 11. | P. di Resta | Force India | 2:15.812 | +4.423 | 11 |
| 12. | T. Glock | Marussia | 2:16.409 | +5.020 | 16 |
| 13. | N. Hulkenberg | Force India | 2:16.786 | +5.397 | 10 |
| 14. | V. Petrov | Caterham | 2:16.788 | +5.399 | 16 |
| 15. | L. Hamilton | McLaren | 2:16.827 | +5.438 | 5 |
| 16. | J. Button | McLaren | 2:16.861 | +5.472 | 8 |
| 17. | C. Pic | Marussia | 2:17.519 | +6.130 | 14 |
| 18. | H. Kovalainen | Caterham | 2:18.199 | +6.810 | 10 |
| 19. | P. de la Rosa | HRT | 2:19.546 | +8.157 | 12 |
| 20. | D. Clos | HRT | 2:19.689 | +8.300 | 12 |
| 21. | R. Grosjean | Lotus | 2:38.701 | +27.312 | 9 |
| 22. | F. Alonso | Ferrari | 2:40.749 | +29.360 | 4 |
| 23. | K. Raikkonen | Lotus | 2:46.580 | +35.191 | 9 |
| 24. | F. Massa | Ferrari | 2 |
